Evaluation Duel (1)
The evaluation duel with Garein didn't last long. Since every student in the class had to take a turn, the time limit was kept to an absolute minimum. That meant the students had to demonstrate everything they possessed within that short, restricted window.
“The rules are simple. When I call your name, step forward. I'll give you five minutes of preparation time, so if you have traps or any other setups ready, install them then. During that time, I'll close my eyes and block my senses, so you can relax.”
“Teacher! Then what are the evaluation criteria?”
“What kind of preparations you made with the single day you were given. How outstanding a performance you show me. There are a few other factors, but basically just show me everything you've got.”
The place where we currently stood was one of the academy's proudest facilities: the sparring arena. With the infirmary right next door, any unexpected accidents could be handled immediately. Because it was such an open space, students who tried to take advantage of the surrounding structures might face a slight penalty, but only someone unfamiliar with this arena would think that way.
Whirring.
Using mana to create and materialize surrounding structures. The facility was designed to let students build environments as advantageous to themselves as possible.
—Ughhhhh!!
—Hehe.
—D-don't laugh at me!
I gave a light shake of my head at the exchange between Cheonma and Hoya.
Yeah, maybe try to behave yourself a little.
It was all self-inflicted anyway.
“Then let's get started. Reglia Einstro, step forward.”
“From the very first match, it's Miss Einstro?”
“Isn't this way too high-level right from the start?”
“What about the rest of us waiting in the back?”
Reglia had been given the role of opening the evaluations. As one of the top five in the class in pure combat ability, calling her first was likely meant to stir various emotions in the students.
Step. Step.
Even she wore an expression that said she hadn't expected to be first. But that only lasted a moment. She quickly returned her face to its usual composed state and walked onto the arena with measured steps.
“I'll give you five minutes.”
As promised, Garein granted Reglia five minutes. In that time, she had to create an environment suited to her and complete all preparations to display her full power.
Whoooosh.
“Whoa.”
“Is that a snowy mountain?”
“It's completely covered in snow.”
“Are we outside the arena? It doesn't actually feel that cold.”
The environment Reglia chose was a blizzard-swept snowy mountain accompanied by biting cold. To those of us outside the arena it didn't feel particularly freezing, but inside, both Reglia and Garein would be experiencing the full chill exactly as it appeared.
—Human technology has advanced so much. To think they could create a facility like this…
—Humans are always progressing. They'll create things even greater than this in the future.
—This is worth copying. When we return, maybe I should try making something similar…
Hoya had finally regained her senses and was muttering nonstop while observing the arena's effects. From the bits I caught, it sounded like she wanted to create something similar back in the Ghost Lair… though I wasn't sure if that was actually feasible.
“Aaron.”
Crack. Craaaack.
[……]
With preparation time still remaining, Reglia summoned her loyal knight who protected her.
“Aaron. Prepare for battle.”
[…For victory.]
Clank.
At Reglia's command he reached for the massive greatsword slung across his back. It had originally been Reglia's personal weapon, but it had now become Aaron's—the Oblivion of Snow.
“Huu……”
Tick. Tock. Tick. Tock.
Reglia slowly closed her eyes and brought her hands together, gazing at the clock floating in the air to measure the five minutes.
Vwoooong.
Along with a powerful surge of mana, a geometrically intricate blue magic circle rose above her palms. Even at a glance it was no ordinary spell, and both Hoya and Cheonma began to murmur in admiration.
—Huh, that cheeky brat.
—This is interesting. To think she's planning to launch such a powerful attack right from the start.
—She's using her head well. She's taking full advantage of the professor's handicap that prevents him from moving during preparation time.
Whooooosh.
“What exactly is Miss Einstro doing?”
“It looks like she's preparing magic.”
“Did she even have a spell that required this much preparation?”
She probably didn't. After all, it wasn't the kind of technique you'd normally reveal in a fight or spar. The preparation time varied wildly depending on the user's capability, and the mana consumption was so lethal that very few members of her family ever used it.
—Still, five minutes seems a little short.
—It looks like she's planning to buy time with that summon.
For the current Reglia, completing that spell in five minutes was still impossible. That was why Aaron's role was so crucial in allowing her to finish casting.
Ring ring ring!
“...Then let the evaluation duel begin.”
In the end, Reglia failed to complete her magic within the five minutes. When Garein opened his eyes, what awaited him was Aaron, who had already flown forward and was swinging his sword.
[──!!]
BOOOOM!
—Too light, way too light!
“That's quite heavy. Your name was definitely… Aaron, wasn't it?”
The instant the duel began, Aaron had charged in and attempted a downward strike that used his strength, speed, and the immense weight of the Oblivion of Snow. But the attack was lightly caught by Garein's left hand. If you looked closely, you could see his hand faintly tinged with brown.
—The rock attribute wrapped around his arm. He's reinforced his body's durability.
—Watch carefully. This fight will make excellent study material for you.
As Cheonma said, their battle became outstanding study material and nourishment for me. Since I possessed outstanding talent in every attribute, the day might come when I could reproduce their fight with my own body.
[Not yet…!!]
Bang. Booom. Bang. Bang. Bang! Bang!!
The sword strikes came so fast it was hard to believe they came from a greatsword. Garein responded not by blocking but by dodging, slipping away from every attack.
“Huh, you've got quite the monster serving under you.”
To wield a greatsword as large as his own body with such freedom. It was definitely no ordinary attack.
“But can the main body afford to stay so defenseless?”
[……!!]
Huge rock fists shaped like giant hands burst from the ground around Aaron and slammed into him.
With a heavy thud, Aaron was sent flying into the distance. Garein didn't miss the opening and rushed straight toward the defenseless Reglia.
“You placed too much blind faith in your own ability. The fact that you couldn't fight properly because you were focused on preparing a single spell the entire time is a point deduction, Reglia Einstro.”
Everyone expected the duel to end here. Reglia was still concentrating on manifesting her magic, and Garein had already closed the distance.
The exact moment Garein's fist swung toward Reglia's head—
[Who said I wasn't fighting because I was preparing one spell?]
“……?!”
At the voice of Reglia coming from behind him, Garein quickly spun and twisted the path of his fist.
Thud.
There stood Aaron, glaring at Garein with murderous eyes.
He had clearly heard Reglia's voice, so why was Aaron here? Had he misheard?
[Professor. Aren't you underestimating me a bit too much?]
“You transferred your consciousness…”
He hadn't misheard. The voice was coming from Aaron—no, more precisely, from the sword he held.
[You said we'd be partners for life, didn't you? Then you have to let me use you like this.]
“To transfer your mind into a weapon. But your physical body remains.”
[Did you really think that was my true body?]
At the same time, a small crack appeared on Reglia's arm. The section had turned exactly like a piece of ice. One of the students shouted in surprise.
“Ice clone!”
“When in the world did she—?”
While blocking Aaron's attack, Garein spoke with the expression of someone who had taken a solid hit after hearing the students' cries. We were surprised too. Just when had she created the clone?
“I see. So you placed an ice clone in front beforehand.”
[Hehe……]
—Oh. The girl knows how to use her head.
—This is fun.
Cheonma and Hoya, who had been watching the fight, both commented that it was interesting and observed with keen interest.
As I watched the battle, however, I was filled with questions. Had Reglia always had a technique like that? No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn't recall it…
“An incredibly sophisticated clone. It was enough to completely fool even me into thinking it was the real thing.”
[Is that so?]
“Then I simply need to find the real body.”
[Aaron.]
[…I shall obey.]
At Reglia's command, Aaron gripped the sword with even greater strength. Unlike before, this attack carried serious weight. However, because the speed was slower than earlier, it naturally couldn't reach Garein.
“Are you not going to use the magic?”
[Hmm… I suppose not. By the way, Professor. How much time has passed now?]
“It's been eight minutes since the duel started.”
[That means I've had thirteen minutes of preparation, then. As expected, to use this properly I'll need to raise my skill level first.]
Reglia's cryptic words. Sensing something, Garein's eyes caught sight of large ice fragments falling from the Oblivion of Snow.
…That is?
Communication magic? Then the Reglia we had been hearing until now—her voice had been coming through that ice?
[Professor. You said earlier that it was enough to make you think it was the real me.]
Having realized something, Garein quickly turned his head toward what he had believed was Reglia's clone. There, unlike before, stood the real Reglia with the corners of her mouth elegantly raised as she staunched her wound.
[It actually is my real body.]
“It actually is my real body.”
Crack.
The ice inscribed with communication magic shattered completely. The Reglia everyone had mistaken for an ice clone was now showing a beautiful, crescent-eyed smile.
Drip… Drip… Drip…
—That child really knows how to use her head.
—No kidding. The guy got completely played by a little girl.
The wound positioned between Reglia's arms. The blood flowing from it. The location and size of the injury perfectly matched the crack that had appeared in the scene where everyone thought she was an ice clone.
—She rapidly froze her own arm to momentarily make it resemble the texture of ice.
—If someone had looked closely they might have noticed something off, but that man named Garein was too distracted by the summon and glossed over it without proper inspection. That was his downfall.
—Tsk tsk. To think someone like that holds the position of professor. How disappointing.
—Still, that girl directed the performance well, didn't she? She hid the mana of the magic circle and diverted his attention. Of course it increased the casting time, but… even I think I would have been fooled by about thirty percent in that situation.
—That's because you're too weak.
—What did you just say?
I ignored the pair who looked ready to start bickering again and focused my attention on Reglia. I could feel the enormous mana swirling violently around her body.
The preparations were finally complete. The magic she had been preparing nonstop ever since the five minutes before the fight began.
“It's the magic that prevents the opponent from focusing on the fight, just as the professor mentioned. Please savor it properly.”
The secret technique she had prepared to shatter a massive iron fortress.
Bitter Cold's Punishment